2023 Summer Blockbusters Preview

Sure, we've got big movies in the last couple of years ("Spider-Man: No Way Home," "Top Gun: Maverick, "Avatar: The Way of Water"), but have you been waiting for the box office to return to pre-pandemic level? 

Get ready... 2023 will be the Year of the Great Comeback!  

Check out how packed in the next few months will be, list of movies with synopses, among soon-to-be-blockbusters:

1) Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (May 5)

2) Fast X (May 19)

3) The Little Mermaid (May 26)

4) Transformers: Rise of the Beast (June 9)

5) The Flash (June 16)

6) Asteroid City (June 16)

7) Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)

8) Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One (July 12)

9) Barbie (July 21)

10) Oppenheimer (July 21)

11) The Meg 2: The Trench (August 4)

12) Gran Turismo (August 11)

Go to: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/entertainment/summer-movie-preview-2023/index.html

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Movie Releases: July-August 2021

Catching up regular schedules of movies...

March 2021 - "Raya and the Last Dragon"

April 2021 - "Finding You"

May 2021 - "Cruella"

June 2021 - "F9"

***

July 2021:

    "Black Widow" - Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous  conspiracy with ties to her past arises.

    "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions" - Six people unwittingly find themselves locked in another series of escape rooms, slowly uncovering what they have in common to survive. Joining forces with two of the original survivors, they soon discover they've all played the game before.

    "Old" - A vacationing family discovers that the secluded beach where they're relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.

    "Jungle Cruise" - Based on Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element.

***

August 2021:

    August 6: "The Suicide Squad" - Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

    August 13: "Free Guy" - A bank teller discovers that he's actually an NPC inside a brutal, open world video game.

    August 20: "Reminiscence" - A scientist discovers a way to relive your past and uses the technology to search for his long lost love.

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Superhero Fans... Assemble!

Superhero fans... Assemble!  Disney has a dozen superhero movies coming up... check out the epic flashbacks to the last decade, teaser trailers for "Black Widow," "Sang Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings," and "The Eternals," and full titles reveal for Marvel's Phase 4.  

Here's the exciting lineup, 2021-2023:

Black Widow - July 9, 2021

Sang Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings - September 3, 2021

The Eternals - November 5, 2021

Spider-Man: No Way Home - December 17, 2021

March 25, 2022 - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Thor: Love and Thunder - May 6, 2022

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - July 8, 2022

The Marvels - November 11, 2022

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - February 17, 2023

Guardians and the Galaxy Vol. 3 - May 5, 2023

Blade - TBD

Fantastic Four - TBD

For past reviews, check out:

https://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/special-posts.html

See y'all at the movies!!

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Summer Movies 2021

Are we there yet?  Could it be real that a blockbuster season is returning?  For all intents and purposes, 2021 will be the year of a comeback, albeit slowly.  

Nearly 40 films are set for wide release in the next several months.  Here's a viewing guide with some trailers:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/summer-movies-2021-everything-coming-to-reopened-theaters-hopefully

Highlights:

Cruella - May 28

Luca - June 18

F9 (Fast & Furious) - June 25

Black Widow - July 9

Reminiscence - August 27

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2021 Most Anticipated Movies

New year, new movies?  Yes and no.... Out of the 40 most anticipated movies, 27 (!) movies are 2020's movies that have been postponed and moved to 2021.  

Check out this link below for release dates, scoops and more: (please note schedules may be subject to change due to COVID-19)

40 most anticipated movies of 2021:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/2021-movies-preview-must-watch-films-opening-140034158.html

Here's to a better new year!

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Part II: All About Superheroes (Updated Schedules)

The pandemic has put theaters and studios in a chicken-and-egg situation where theaters can't open profitably without a stable slate of new releases (especially with restricted capacity).  But major studios won't release their tentpoles with low box office numbers, as ardent moviegoers (including myself) are really leery about going.  

With Regal Cinemas (the second largest theater chain in the U.S.) shuttering operations for an indefinite period (another postponement of James Bond's "No Time to Die" from November 2020 to April 2, 2021 was the last straw), Marvel, DC and Sony Pictures have also pushed their superheroes pictures to 2021.  "Wonder Woman: 1984" is the only major picture that still slated for December 25, 2020, and even then, director Patty Jenkins has voiced concerns and moving it again is not out of the question.  Disney has made also the decision to release Pixar's animation "Soul" into Disney+, following the relative success of "Mulan."  

The good news is the studios are still committed to releasing these blockbusters on the big screen, as they are intended to be seen...  We're going to see a flood of releases in 2021-2022!  

Check this out:

March 19, 2021: “Morbius” (Sony Pictures)

May 7, 2021: “Black Widow” (Marvel Studios)

June 25, 2021: “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (Sony Pictures)

July 9, 2021: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (Marvel Studios)

Aug, 6, 2021: “The Suicide Squad” (DC Films)

Nov. 5, 2021: “Eternals” (Marvel Studios)

Dec. 17, 2021: Untitled “Spider-Man: Far From Home” sequel (Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios)

Feb. 11, 2022: “Thor: Love and Thunder” (Marvel Studios)

March 4, 2022: “The Batman” (DC Films)

March 25, 2022: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (Marvel Studios)

May 6, 2022: “Black Panther II” (Marvel Studios)

July 8, 2022: “Captain Marvel 2” (Marvel Studios)

Until then, let's buckle down and continue to do our part as we're moving towards closing 2020.  Or perhaps catch up on past movies: https://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/special-posts.html

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/marvel-studios-dc-films-release-dates-1234782887/#article-comments

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It's (Almost) Time... Blockbuster Movies & DC Fandom

[Updated as of 08/22/20]

With theaters are playing a roulette against opening dates at the mercy of their cities' regulations in consideration of the fights against COVID-19, ""Mulan" and "Tenet" have finally taken a stand.  The two major blockbusters-to-be, originally to be released into theaters on March 27 and July 17, 2020 have been postponed a few times.  

"Tenet" now has an international release date (or at least in the countries that allow it) on August 26 and U.S. on September 4, 2020.  Christopher Nolan, an ardent supporter of theaters, has been steadfast in his refusal to release the movie straight to streaming or video on demand.  Which is understandable - "Tenet" is an 'event' movie, meant to be seen on the big screen.  

"Mulan," on the same lines with "Tenet," has a more surprising route.  With their theme parks business hammered, Disney+ has been thriving.  Disney will release "Mulan," also on September 4, 2020 to Disney+ at $29.99.  Subscribers, paying $6.99/month subscription will need to fork out this fee.  I can't imagine a movie this scale not released into theaters at some point, however.  

"The New Mutants" and "Black Widow" remain firmly on their delayed, respective release dates on August 28 and November 6, 2020. 

Meanwhile, having been closed for nearly five months, the two largest theater chains have announced reopening plans.  Regal Cinemas will be open on August 21, 2020, premiering a new movie, "Unhinged."  Safe reopening measures are posted on its website.  AMC will be open sometime mid-late August.  

On another major announcement, DC Fandome (DC's first and own version of Comic-Con) looks more exciting that Comic-Con @ Home this year.  It's stacked with major star power!  Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, Robert Pattinson, Ezra Miller, directors Zack Snyder and Patty Jenkins are among those confirmed to attend.  The virtual convention is free and will run all day on August 22, 2020.  

*Updated as of 08/22/20 - Jammed with content, DC has split the programming into two days.  The second live streaming will run on September 22, 20.  Check out the schedule here: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dc-fandome-batman-wonder-woman-flash-1234734827/#article-comments

https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/4/21354593/mulan-release-date-disney-earnings-warner-bros-tenet-theaters

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dc-fandome-gal-gadot-idris-220824365.html

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Movies Reshuffled (Part III)

Those of you who are looking forward to July to finally start your movie-going habit back, it will be August now..."Mulan" has been re-shifted from July 24 to August 21, "Tenet" from July 31 to August 12 (opening mid-week), and "Wonder Woman: 1984" pushed even further from August 14 to October 2, 2020. "Inception" (2010) is still planned to be re-released to July 17, 2020 (at this time), as major theaters are opening back up in mid-July.

More re-shuffling of movies here:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blockbuster-movies-delayed-coronavirus-201429313.html

This also means it will leave July wide open for Comic Con @ Home.  Programming is being lined up.  Stay tuned!

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All About Superheroes (2020-2023)

If you've been superhero-deprived, check out this out... Marvel and DC Universes for 2020-2022 with release dates and 2023 movies with pending dates.  A more than full slate to look forward to!

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/superhero-movies-every-marvel-dc-144337695.html

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Movies Postponed & Rescheduled (Part II)

All the 2020 blockbuster movies we're waiting for... we'll just have to wait a little longer.  Check this out for the latest dates (some got pushed to 2021!) - Mulan, Black Widow, Jungle Cruise, the Eternals, Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick...and more.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blockbuster-movies-delayed-coronavirus-201429313.html

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Movies Postponed & Rescheduled

A list of Hollywood movies postponed and rescheduled:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blockbuster-movies-delayed-coronavirus-201429313.html

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Upcoming Movie Reviews

Note: Movie reviews will resume after studios release feature films as planned (hopefully soon) and movie-going takes place again.  Wash your hands and be considerate to others.  Stay safe and healthy!

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/coronavirus-relief-fund/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-relief-fund
https://www.hearttoheart.org/covid-19-update/#

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Upcoming Movies: December 2019

[Originally published on 11/20/19]

[Happy Thanksgiving!  Will catch up on movie reviews in December]

December 6 
"The Aeronauts" - A pilot and a scientist find themselves in an epic fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon.

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" - On an isolated island at the end of the 18th century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.

December 13
"Jumanji: The Next Level" (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/jumanjithenextlevel) - A team of friends return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own but discover that nothing is as they expect. The players need to brave parts unknown, from arid deserts to snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.

"Uncut Gems" - A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score, makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. He must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.

December 20
"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (https://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-ix-the-rise-of-skywalker) - The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.

"Bombshell" - A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network.

December 27
"Little Women" - Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

"Spies in Disguise" (https://family.foxmovies.com/movies/spies-in-disguise) - When the world's best spy is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world.

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Upcoming Movies: March 2020

[Originally posted on 03/01/20]

March 6
"Onward" (https://movies.disney.com/onward) - Set in a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there.

"The Way Back" (https://www.thewayback-movie.com/) - A former high school basketball phenom struggling with alcoholism is offered a coaching job at his alma mater. As the team starts to win, he may have a reason to confront his old demons.

March 13
"My Spy" (http://www.stxfilms.com/myspy/) - A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family.

"Bloodshot" (https://www.bloodshot.movie/) - A slain soldier is re-animated with superpowers.

"I Still Believe" -  The true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope.

March 20
"A Quiet Place Part II" - Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the path.

March 27
"Mulan" (https://movies.disney.com/mulan-2020) - A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father.

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Upcoming Movies: February 2020

[Originally published on 02/01/20]

February 7
"Birds of Prey" - After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

February 14
"Sonic the Hedgehog" (https://www.sonicthehedgehogmovie.com/) - After discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help it defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on it.

"Fantasy Island" (https://www.fantasyisland.movie/) - The enigmatic Mr. Roarke, makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island's mystery in order to escape with their lives.

February 21
"Emma" - Jane Austen's beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending, is reimagined.  Emma is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. She must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.

"The Invisible Man" - When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

February 28
"Wendy" (http://www.searchlightpictures.com/wendy/) - Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.

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Upcoming Movies: January 2020

[Originally published on 12/30/19]

January 10
"1917" (https://www.1917.movie/) - Two young British soldiers during the First World War are given an impossible mission: deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, and one of the soldier's brothers, from walking straight into a deadly trap.

"Just Mercy" (https://www.justmercyfilm.com/) - A renowned civil rights defense attorney works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner.

"Underwater" (https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/underwater) - A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. But the crew has more than the ocean seabed to fear.

January 17
"Dolittle" (https://www.dolittlethemovie.com/) - A physician discovers that he can talk to animals.

"The Wave" - An opportunistic insurance lawyer, thinks he's in for the time of his life when he goes out on the town to celebrate an upcoming promotion with his co-worker. Their night takes a bizarre turn when he's dosed with a hallucinogen that slters his perception of the world.

January 24
"The Gentlemen" (https://www.thegentlemen.movie/) - A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires.

"The Last Full Measure" - 34 years after his death, an airman is awarded the nation's highest military honor for his actions on the battlefield.

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Upcoming Movies: November 2019

[Originally posted on 10/25/19]

November 1
"Terminator: Dark Fate" (https://tickets.terminatormovie.com/) - Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young woman from a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future.

"The Irishman" - A mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

"Harriet" - The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

November 8
"Doctor Sleep" - Years following the events of "The Shining," a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

"Last Christmas" - A young woman subscribed to bad decisions accept to work as Santa's elf for a department store. She meets a guy that takes her life to a new turn.

November 15
"Charlie's Angels" (https://www.charliesangels.movie/) - When an engineer blows the whistle on a dangerous technology, Charlie's Angels are called into action, putting their lives on the line to protect  all.

"Ford v Ferrari" (https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ford-v-ferrari) - American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the Le Mans in 1966.

November 22
"Frozen 2" (https://movies.disney.com/frozen-2) - Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.

"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (https://www.abeautifulday.movie/) - Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod.

"Dark Waters" (https://www.focusfeatures.com/dark-waters) - A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.

November 29
"Knives Out" (https://knivesout.movie/) - A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

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Upcoming Movies: October 2019

[Posted on 10/02/19]

October 4
"Joker" (http://www.jokermovie.net/) - A gritty character study of Arthur Fleck, a man disregarded by society.

"Lucy in the Sky" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/lucyinthesky/) - An astronaut returns to Earth after a transcendent experience during a mission to space and begins to lose touch with reality in a world that now seems too small.

October 11
"Gemini Man" (http://skydance.com/film/gemini-man/) - An over-the-hill hitman faces off against a younger clone of himself.

"Jexi" - A comedy about what can happen when you love your phone more than anything else in your life.

October 18
"Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" (https://movies.disney.com/maleficent-mistress-of-evil) - Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.

"Jojo Rabit" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/jojorabbit/) - A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.

October 25
"Countdown" - When a nurse downloads an app that claims to predict the moment a person will die, it tells her she only has three days to live. With the clock ticking and a figure haunting her, she must find a way to save her life before time runs out.

"The Last Full Measure" - 34 years after his death,  an airman is awarded the nation's highest military honor, for his actions on the battlefield.

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Upcoming Movies: September 2019

[Originally posted on 08/25/19]

September 6
"It Chapter Two" - 27 years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.

"A Night Hunter" - A weathered Lieutenant, his police force, and a local vigilante are all caught up in a dangerous scheme involving a recently arrested, troubled man who's linked to years of female abductions and murders.

September 13
"The Goldfinch" (https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/goldfinch/) - A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Hustlers" - Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.

September 20
"Ad Astra" (https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/ad-astra) - An astronaut travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. He uncovers secrets which challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.

"Rambo: Last Blood" (https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/rambo-last-blood) - Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission.

September 27
"21 Bridges" - A disgraced detective in the NYPD is given a shot at redemption.

"The Hunt" - Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen - for a very specific purpose.

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Upcoming Movies: August 2019

[Originally posted on 12/31/18]

August 2
"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" (https://www.hobbsandshaw.com) - Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.

"Luce" - A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star student.

August 9
"Dora and the Lost City of Gold" - Dora, a teenage explorer, leads her friends on an adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lost city of gold.

"After the Wedding" - A manager of an orphanage in Kolkata travels to New York to meet a benefactor.

August 16
"The Informer" - An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.

"47 Meters Down: Uncaged" - Four teen girls diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they've entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.

August 23
"Angel Has Fallen" - Secret Service Agent Mike Banning is framed for the attempted assassination of the President and must evade his own agency and the FBI as he tries to uncover the real threat.

"Ready or Not" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/readyornot/) - A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game.

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